As I write, waiting for a major snowstorm to hit the Northeast and maybe keep people home long enough to help slow the spread of this viral scourge, an approved Covid-19 vaccine is being rolled out to hospital workers and nursing home residents across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Soon there may be multiple vaccines available and the pandemic’s destruction of the health and economic lives of millions will—in the near future—come to an end.
I hope that by the time you read this, tens of millions will have received their two doses of vaccines and millions more will be ready for delivery. Maybe by then, a one-shot vaccine will also be available. I will be lining up for a vaccine as soon as it is available to me. I hope everyone in the aviation industry does so as well and encourages their families and friends to do the same. There’s no saving this industry until we free ourselves from the tentacles of this pandemic, and getting vaccinated will be the quickest route even if the federal government finally comes through with another bailout.
With more than 40 years experience in the aviation industry, The Honorable John Goglia, was the first and only Airframe and Powerplant mechanic to receive a presidential appointment to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). He served from August 1995 to June 2004.
As a Board Member, Mr. Goglia distinguished himself in numerous areas of transportation safety. In particular, he was instrumental in raising awareness of airport safety issues, including the importance of airport crash fire and rescue operations and the dangers of wildlife at airports. He played a key role in focusing international attention on the increasing significance of aircraft maintenance in aviation accidents. He pressed, successfully, for greater integration of civilian and military safety information, becoming a featured speaker at national aviation symposiums attended by military leaders and major defense contractors. He is a leading proponent of airplane child safety seats.
Prior to becoming a Board Member, Mr. Goglia held numerous positions in the airline industry. He started as a mechanic for United Airlines and eventually joined Allegheny, which became USAir. Additionally, he was involved for more than 20 years as a union flight safety representative on accident investigation teams. There, he developed a safety program for his union, the International Association of Machinists, and was its representative for NTSB investigations. For twelve years, he operated his own aircraft service company.
Numerous prestigious groups have recognized Mr. Goglia’s contributions to aviation safety. Aviation Week & Space Technology awarded him a coveted 2004 Laurel for his outstanding service as an NTSB Board member. The Society of Automotive Engineers presented him with the Aerospace Chair Award for outstanding leadership in 2003 and the Marvin Whitlock Award for outstanding management accomplishment in 2002.
More In Safety
